Every single point matters right now. It is around this time of the season that unlikely cult heroes emerge and their performances are etched into club history. With this in mind, here is a look at the biggest talking points from across the weekend.
Jones is having quite the end to his season. He’s been one of the most important players for Liverpool following the change in their shape and during an eight-game unbeaten run, he’d chipped in with a goal against Spurs and an assist against Leeds.
In the 3-0 win over Leicester City last night, the 22-year-old netted twice, completed 91% of his passes, created two chances, won 100% of his tackles and recovered the ball on five occasions in what was a Player-of-the-Match showing.
The Reds are just a point outside of the Champions League places now. The Foxes are 19th, two points from safety with two games to play.
Brighton bounce back
Everton humbled Roberto De Zerbi’s men ahead of Brighton’s trip to the Emirates. Sean Dyche’s side ran out 5-1 winners in one of the shock results of the season.
The Italian tactician did, however, say that the world would see the ‘real Brighton’ at the Emirates and he kept to his word as the Seagulls romped to a 3-0 win over the title challengers.
Brighton created four big chances to Arsenal’s one and dominated the second half, racking up an Expected Goals haul of 1.4 after the break. The performance forced Mikel Arteta into an apology after the final whistle.
Pressure? What pressure?
A trip to Goodison Park with Everton in a relegation battle would be a tricky fixture for a lot of teams. Not for Manchester City though. Kicking off before Arsenal’s clash with Brighton, the reigning champions knew that a win would see them move four points clear of the title pretenders with a game in hand.
Everton limited City for over half an hour before two goals in two minutes killed the game. Ilkay Gündogan nonchalantly flicked the visitors into the lead before Erling Haaland added his 36th Premier League goal of the season, with the City No.8 assisting the No.9.
Gündogan added his second after the break to make it four goals in his last two outings for the league leaders. Prior to this run, he had scored just four goals all season.
At the double
Chelsea finally picked up a win under Frank Lampard last weekend, beating Bournemouth 3-1. A home game against Nottingham Forest presented them with an opportunity to make it two wins from two and though they did at one stage have the lead, they failed to see this one out.
In fact, the away side carved out more big chances and had a higher Expected Goals haul.
Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice again for the second successive match and he kept the Chelsea defence busy throughout. He was involved in eight aerial duels and eight ground duels in the 81 minutes he was on the pitch.
Raheem Sterling netted twice for Chelsea, his first Premier League goals since he scored against Forest on New Year’s Day.
Stepping up
Manchester United were without Marcus Rashford for the visit of Wolves. They had lost their last two and Erik Ten Hag’s men were under pressure to get back to winning ways in a bid to retain their place in the top four.
Bruno Fernandes stepped up. The United No.8 ran the show, creating five chances, assisting a goal and having seven shots in the 2-0 win. It should’ve been more for the Red Devils, with the hosts creating chances with an Expected Goals value of 3.28.
(Images from IMAGO)
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There were yet more titles decided and trophies handed out this weekend, with some relatively long waits for league honours coming to an end in various parts of Europe. That makes up for a significant chunk of our agenda in this edition of our Last Weekend column.
It was quite a weekend at the home of English football; Wembley Stadium, which hosted two fantastic matches. On Saturday, Notts County secured their return to the football league after a dramatic play-off final against Chesterfield that went all the way to penalties. Then, on Sunday, it was time for the Women’s FA Cup final.
A sell-out crowd of over 77,000 came together to set a world-record attendance figure for a domestic women’s club match. Playing in front of them were four-time winners Chelsea, who were seeking to defend their crown against a Manchester United side seeking to lift their first major honour.
The Red Devils thought they got off to a perfect start when Leah Galton put the ball in the back of the net less than 20 seconds after the first whistle, but it was ruled out for offside. They continued to look more threatening and dominant throughout the match, but they lacked the all-important cutting edge in front of goal.
Chelsea, on the other hand, had just that in the shape of Sam Kerr. The Australian international was on the scoresheet in each of their last two FA Cup final triumphs in the last two years, and she made it three in a row by turning in a ball across the box in the 68th minute.
Manchester United’s quest for a late equaliser was unsuccessful, so they had to resign to defeat in their first major final. They still have a chance to get one over on Chelsea in the WSL title race which is set to go right down to the wire, although they will need some help from elsewhere to do that.
After Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey last weekend, Barcelona got one over on their old rivals by securing the title in LaLiga this weekend. Better yet, they did so at the home of their local rivals Espanyol with a comfortable win.
A Robert Lewandowski brace along with goals from Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé saw the visitors go four goals to the good in under an hour, so they were in a commanding position. Espanyol’s late strikes through Javier Puado and Joselu were little more than mere consolation, with the home fans watching their side suffer their ninth defeat since the start of March having been dominated for most of the game.
Barcelona knew that a win here would mathematically seal their first La Liga title since 2018/19, so they began celebrating right after the full-time whistle. Unfortunately, their initial joy was interrupted quite rudely by a number of Espanyol fans storming the pitch and forcing the opposition players and coaching staff to escape down the tunnel.
We were fortunate that there were no seriously ugly scenes as a result of these tremendously stupid actions from the fans that stormed the pitch, but some commentators have pointed out that the fact that many first questioned Barcelona’s decision to celebrate rather than the fans’ actions might be symptomatic of a wider issue in Spanish football.
We had a much more prolonged celebration in the Netherlands this weekend, where Feyenoord knew that a win over Go Ahead Eagles would hand them their first Eredivisie title since 2017.
Arne Slot’s men got to work quickly, opening the scoring just 15 minutes in and doubling their lead soon thereafter through Oussama Idrissi and Santiago Giménez, who has now scored in each of his last 10 domestic matches. A wonderful strike from Igor Paixão early on in the second half put the result well beyond doubt, so paper replicas of the silver plate began popping up all over the stands.
Indeed, Feyenoord would go on to lift the title and officially end Ajax’s streak at the end of the match. They thoroughly deserve to be the ones doing so too, having put together a run of 12 straight league victories to lift them head and shoulders above what was seemingly set to be a close title race with Ajax and PSV.
The Eindhoven-based outfit should comfortably finish second at the end of the season, but Ajax cannot afford to let up at all. AZ have overtaken them for third place at the moment after their match against already-relegated Groningen was abandoned due to fan trouble, so they still have some work to do to at least qualify for next season’s Europa League.
The very dramatic and entertaining Greek Super League title race finally drew to a close this weekend as we watched the final matchday of the championship group, where AEK Athens comfortably secured their first league title in five years.
We knew that Olympiacos’ three-year winning streak was going to end when they were mathematically ruled out of the title race following defeat to Aris at the end of April, but for most of the season, it seemed that Panathinaikos were going to be the ones who replaced them at the top. In fact, they were eight points clear before the World Cup break, which marked the midway point of the regular season. But, it all fell apart for them right at the end.
On the fourth to last matchday, they hosted their title rivals with both sides level on points. After a goalless draw, they remained first by virtue of having a greater points tally at the end of the regular season since the two sides could not be separated based on their head-to-head record, so they were still in control of their own fate. Even a draw with PAOK was not a problem since AEK drew with Olympiacos on the same matchday, but on the penultimate weekend, there came an unpredictable twist.
Just one day before the must-win derby against Olympiacos, Panathinaikos reported a host of COVID cases in their camp including 14 among the players. The fixtures were initially suspended and set to be postponed with most expecting them to be moved to midweek, but they took place just a day later than what was initially planned.
So, last Monday night, Panathinaikos visited an empty Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium with a full-strength squad but with many of their starters reportedly infected with COVID, and they suffered a defeat after a very weak performance that effectively ended their title hopes. Having beaten Aris, AEK only needed a point against 6th-placed Volos on the final day, and they comfortably got more than that.
Matías Almeyda’s side will have the chance to do the double when they face PAOK in the cup final next week, although they will play in an empty stadium in Volos after a failed plan to host the fixture in Cyprus.
This year’s CAF Champions League final is getting ever closer as the semi-finals kicked off this weekend, fittingly, featuring four of Africa’s best teams. The two best-performing sides were pitted against each other as defending champions Wydad Casablanca took on Mamelodi Sundowns, but their first leg ended goalless despite the South African visitors ending the match with just nine players on the pitch.
They will have all to play for in the second leg, but the same probably cannot be said of Espérance and Al Ahly. The first leg of their tie was held in an empty stadium in Radès as a result of a CAF sanction for the events of the quarter-final, and the home side seemed to miss their supporters.
Ex-Brighton man Percy Tau gave Al Ahly the lead just eight minutes in, and although the home side saw more of the ball thereafter, they failed to make much of it. Meanwhile, the Egyptian champions-elect were able to pose a significant counter-attacking threat, and that is what effectively ended up sealing the tie.
Tau struck again early on in the second half, after which Mahmoud Kahraba got on the scoresheet in the 78th minute to give his side a three-goal lead. Al Ahly will surely be able to hold on to that in the second leg in Cairo, so a 13th CAF Champions League final absolutely is on the cards for them.
Napoli may have sealed the Serie A title early on, but there still is a lot to play for in the league. Right below them, there is an incredibly tight race for Europe which seems to have twists and turns on a weekly basis, and at the other end of the standings, the relegation battle is quite close too.
The Saturday evening clash between Spezia and Milan was set to have ramifications on both of those battles, as the hosts started three points from safety in 18th place while Milan had the chance to close the gap to Lazio down to a point as well as temporarily jumping over local rivals Inter to get into the top four.
Even though the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against their neighbours is scheduled for this Tuesday, Stefano Piolo made few changes to his line-up and fielded a very strong XI, underlining how important finishing in the top four is for Milan. The players put in a pretty disappointing performance, though, failing to really impose themselves against a Spezia side that was winless in nine games.
Having done well to keep the scores level as they entered the dying stages of the match, Spezia made the most of set-pieces to stage an upset. Przemysław Wiśniewski turned in a corner to give the hosts the lead in the 75th minute, and then Salvatore Esposito sealed the result by scoring from a direct free-kick in the 85th minute.
This result leaves Milan four points adrift of the Champions League spots, but it had a much more significant impact at the bottom. Spezia, whose only two wins in their last 18 games have come against the two big Milan clubs, jumped out of the relegation zone thanks to a superior head-to-head record against Hellas Verona, who lost to Torino. With just three matches left, Spezia’s battle against the drop is set to go right down to the wire.
In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.
Barcelona could/should confirm their first LaLiga title under the stewardship of legendary player Xavi Hernández over the course of the weekend ending three years of dominance by the clubs from Madrid. They could even do so before having to kick a ball in their game, in Barcelona, on Sunday night.
With a 13 point lead going into the weekend should either Real Madrid drop points against Getafe on Saturday, or Atlético fail to win at Elche, earlier on Sunday, the title will already belong to Barça. Failing that unlikely combination, a win, at city-rivals Espanyol will seal the deal for Xavi and his men, with four rounds to spare.
To do so, at the home of their relegation-threatened neighbours would be another insult in a long line of injustices felt by the less dominant side in the city. But at least Barcelona won’t have far to travel in order to celebrate what will be championship number 27 with their vast fanbase.
We’re going to have to wait a little longer before we have a definitive winner in the Premier League but results this weekend could have a huge impact on the title race. Manchester City and Arsenal are separated by just a point, with City having the advantage of four games left to play – to the Gunner’s three.
With City between legs in their Champions League semi-final battle against Real Madrid, we’ve therefore not selected their league fixture, taking place at Everton on Sunday, as one to follow, but you should really do that anyway. Then settle in for Arsenal’s clash against Brighton taking place at the Emirates straight afterwards.
The travelling Seagulls are still aiming to qualify for European football next season and due to their games in hand, they can mathematically claim a place in the top four, albeit that would require a lot of other results to go their way. Roberto De Zerbi may then have to settle for Europa or Europa Conference League qualification. And upsetting the Gunners, a side they’ve performed well against already this season, will go some way to achieving that.
Arsenal did eventually run away 4-2 winners at Brighton in their last league meeting but that scoreline flattered them somewhat and they were beaten, at home, by Brighton in the Carabao Cup back in November.
The Bundesliga title race is equally close with Klassiker rivals Bayern and Borussia Dortmund also separated by a single point with three rounds left in the season.
On Saturday current leaders, and 10-time defending champions, Bayern host Dortmund’s other most hated opponents, Schalke, in an afternoon kick-off. With Schalke hovering two points above the relegation zone there should, however, be no fears of them putting out a weakened side and gifting the result to Bayern, in order to scupper the hopes of their regional rivals!
Bayern, a club supposedly in crisis, appear to have steadied the ship with back-to-back wins against Hertha and Werder Bremen in the last couple of weeks but their season has been plagued with slip-ups and another one here would give Dortmund, who play Gladbach later in the day, a chance of replacing them at the top of the table.
It wasn’t so long ago that the Eredivisie was looking set for an epic conclusion with all three of the league’s most famous clubs battling it out for the title. But with crucial wins against their rivals and indifferent form canceling out the threat from PSV and Ajax, it’s Feyenoord who have risen to the top.
So much so that on Sunday, at their famous home, De Kuip, they can seal what will be their 16th Dutch championship with a win over the fabulously named Go Ahead Eagles.
Arne Slot’s side have won their last 11 league matches to put themselves in this position, with three games to spare, and combined that with a run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup. It’s been a great season for the side from Rotterdam.
In neighbouring Belgium, Royal Antwerp have also been flying in recent times. In fact, we’d wager that no one in European football has enjoyed a more important run of results since the end of April. Over the course of seven days Antwerp beat KV Mechelen to win the Croky Cup for the fourth time in their history, then won successive league games against the two sides who’d dominated the regular season – Union St. Gillose and Genk.
Those wins saw them overhaul both to go top of the Championship Group as we head towards the half-way point of the decisive second stage of the campaign. On Sunday, they’ll be looking to consolidate that position against fading force Club Brugge.
It’s the three-time defending champions who usually come to the fore in this latter portion of the season but that will not be the case this time around and should Royal Antwerp maintain this hot streak, they could be in line for a first ever league and cup double. And dare we say it, end the 66-year wait for a league title…
Plus two hidden gems from deep in your match feed…
As we know, they like to go big in MLS. And therefore MLS Rivalry Week is something we always pay attention to. The Cali Clásico – LA Galaxy vs. San Jose – is one of, if not, the longest running rivalry in North American football and is one of five derbies being played this weekend with Rivalry Week actually spanning two game weeks.
And ahead of Sunday’s game and perhaps for the first time in a while, it’s the Earthquakes who are in the ascendency. They finished rock bottom of the Western Conference last year but have so far held their own, losing just three of their first 11 in 2023. That contrasts strongly with the Galaxy who since qualifying for the play offs last season have seen their form drop off a cliff. It took them eight rounds to pick up their first win of the campaign but that victory over Austin in April remains their only one in the league to date. Amidst off field problems that have seen calls for both a change in head coach and club president, the Galaxy did however beat Seattle Sounders, with a youthful side in the midweek US Open Cup Fourth Round.
The 2022/23 Women’s Super League season in England has been one of the most interesting since the league’s formation. With just two rounds to go, Manchester United lead defending champions Chelsea by a point, as the club look to win a first ever major trophy.
The Blues closed the gap to United thanks to a thumping 6-0 win over Leicester in midweek and do also have the advantage of having one additional game in hand. All of which points to the welcome distraction of this season’s FA Cup Final, being played at a sold out Wembley Stadium, on Sunday.
United, the relative upstarts, will need to beat Chelsea for the first time in their history should they want to take up this earlier opportunity to break their duck in the trophy department. For Emma Hayes’ superstar side, there’s the possibility of making it a hat-trick of wins in this competition, one that has been running since the 1970s.
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With five Serie A sides featuring across the semi-final first legs in UEFA’s various midweek competitions our Italian football expert is living his best life. And here he is with his review of the action.
It was a San Siro that once again lived up to its billing on the biggest of European nights. A stadium that has seen so many trophies and world class players, set the stage for an incredible Inter performance in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against bitter city rivals, Milan.
Inter’s first half was a Simone Inzaghi masterclass. Taking full advantage of Rafael Leão not being fit enough to play, the Nerazzurri pressed much higher up the field and played with a high defensive line, as Milan didn’t have their usual talisman, who is such a threat on the counter. Inzaghi had two choices to make – Hakan Çalhanoğlu or Marcelo Brozović in the midfield and whether to go with Edin Džeko or Romelu Lukaku up front. The choices he ended up making – Çalhanoğlu and Džeko from the first minute, ended up looking like another superb decision from the Inter manager.
Džeko, who was inexplicably marked by Milan’s much shorter fullback Davide Calabria, was able to score a stunning volley from a corner. The Bosnian striker took full advantage of his height and strength advantage over the Rossoneri captain, showing his class and experience with a fantastic strike. The second goal came only three minutes later, as Inter split through Milan’s midfield and Henrikh Mkhitaryan made the most of his chance in the centre of the box by striking it right through Mike Maignan.
The two goals in rapid succession stunned a Milan side that looked poor throughout. Simply put, they just don’t have a dynamic difference maker without Leão. To make matters worse, Ismaël Bennacer picked up an injury in the first half and is now out for the rest of the season. The Algerian has taken up a more advanced role this calendar year under Stefano Pioli and was vital in Milan’s ability to knock Napoli out of the quarter-finals. Without Bennacer, Milan lack the calmness he often brings in possession and building out from the back.
What was most surprising is how physically stronger Inter were in the midfield, as the trident of Çalhanoğlu, Barella and Mkhitaryan had complete control of that area of the field. They won every 50/50 and took advantage of a very lenient referee that allowed play to continue in many occasions where others would’ve whistled a foul.
Inzaghi has had a knack this season of using his substitutions quite early, often removing the strikers and wing-backs in the second half without getting a dramatic drop off in quality. His ability to keep the positions that work the hardest, fresh with energy has paid dividends, with Inter firmly in the driver’s seat with one match to go until the final. The club has been in stunning form recently, with six straight wins in all competitions in a run that has seen them score 17 goals and only concede once.
At the moment, it feels like Milan will need a miracle to pull off a comeback.
Juventus rescue a draw at the death
Juventus were matched up with Europa League royalty in La Liga side Sevilla, and looked the weaker side for most of the home leg of their semi-final in Turin. Juve’s first half ended without a shot on goal and whistles from the entire Allianz Stadium. The issue was once again a lacklustre attack that failed to provide many chances for the striker. While the game was relatively open, Dušan Vlahović once again failed to make the most of his opportunities by squandering an important goal opportunity and losing possession too often. While this pragmatic Max Allegri system doesn’t seem to suit Vlahović well, there’s also plenty of blame the striker should be receiving, as he hasn’t made the most of the balls that come his way, no matter how few they are.
The lone bright spot in the Bianconeri outfield was the English winger Samuel Iling-Junior, who offered some much needed dynamism with his minutes. At only 19-years-old, he seems to have bags of confidence, as he tries to aggressively take on the defender with every ball that comes his way. Iling-Junior standing out is also a product of how mediocre the skill players around him can be. The biggest question going forward will be why the winger doesn’t start when his ability seemed to fill a desperate need for the club.
Sevilla on the other hand seemed to have a Europa League DNA of sorts. The club always looked in control and could’ve scored more than just the one in the first half. José Luis Mendilibar’s team built up possession easily and got into the final third at will, but just didn’t have the killer instinct to put the game away in the first half when Juventus provided no answers whatsoever.
Juve’s fortune to score on the last kick of the game, literally, will give them a chance going to the south of Spain. Federico Gatti’s header in the 97th minute was an important lifeline and already sets up a more defensive minded approach for Allegri to work with in the second leg.
Roma youngster steals the show
On a night where José Mourinho had to play a European semi-final with a tired team that has been injury plagued throughout the season, it was the Roman born youth product Edoardo Bove who stole the show.
The injuries that Roma have had to deal with this campaign have meant that Mourinho has had to tinker often. Paulo Dybala and Gini Wijnaldum, who were the two premier signings of last summer, haven’t been able to feature together often or for a consistent stretch of time. When they’re not playing, it’s put a lot of pressure on the likes of Lorenzo Pellegrini to be the sole creator. However, the youngster Bove was the one who stepped up and was able to drive forward from the midfield.
Part of Mourinho’s genius has been galvanising his squad into fully buying into every European tournament they get into. While the Europa League has grown in prestige and prize money, last season’s debut of the Conference League saw Roma take it seriously under Mourinho – even if it was a new trophy that carried no historical significance. His celebrations when the Giallorossi beat Feyenoord was reminiscent of the Portuguese manager being on the winning end of Europe’s most elite competition, but this is part of his genius as a manager – making the players feel like they’ve accomplished something truly important together and building unity within his team.
(images from IMAGO)
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Champions were crowned and dethroned in various places over the last few days, so let us take a look back at some of the biggest games and results in our weekly column.
The biggest game of the weekend was played on Saturday morning UTC in Japan, where the Saitama Stadium hosted the second leg of the 2022 AFC Champions League final.
This edition of the tournament has been very unique as it served as the transition for the scheduling change from a year-round format to a cross-year format that will be implemented from the 2023/24 season. As a result, Urawa Reds qualified for this final way back in August last year when the East Zone knockouts were held, whereas Al Hilal only booked their palace in February during the West Zone knockouts.
That meant that the Japanese side were in an interesting position where Ricardo Rodríguez oversaw all of their matches leading up to the final, but Maciej Skorża was in the dugout for the big one having replaced the Spaniard between the J League seasons. The biggest change he made was adding a lot more defensive solidity to the Reds, and that proved decisive in this final.
The possession split in both legs was the exact same – 71% to Al Hilal and just 29% to Urawa Reds, who naturally found themselves defending a lot. Thanks to Skorża’s compact 4-4-2 block, though, they were able to keep Al Hilal at bay for large periods, particularly in the second leg when they never really looked threatened.
They were rather lucky to come away with a draw from the first leg in Riyadh as Al Hilal created a fair few chances and only conceded a freak goal for the equaliser, and also ended up losing star attacker Salem Al-Dawsari late on as he saw red for kicking an opposition player who had fouled him, thereby earning a suspension for this game.
He was certainly missed by his teammates in Japan, as they could only fashion 10 chances altogether even after going one goal down just after half-time. André Carrillo’s own goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides, although Urawa Reds would have gone on to become the first side to lift three AFC Champions Leagues without that thanks to the competition being one of the last in the world where the Away Goals Rule is still in use.
Over in Europe, we had a couple of domestic cup finals this weekend. The big one in Spain saw 19-time Copa del Rey winners Real Madrid face Osasuna, who were only playing their second such final and did not have a single major trophy to their name.
The Pamplona-based outfit have been one of the feel-good stories in La Liga this season and indeed over the last few years, as they have comfortably finished mid-table after winning promotion from the second tier in 2018/19. Most neutrals certainly would have been supporting them here, as they are seen as an ideal club by many thanks to their total fan ownership, emphasis on local youth development, ability to maximise a minimal budget and vibrant support at El Sadar.
Indeed, this cup run has been filled with many memorable moments for them including the penalty shoot-out success against Real Betis, extra time win over Sevilla and the two-legged triumph over Athletic Club when thousands of fans stayed up till the early hours of the following morning to give their side a hero’s welcome upon their return from the Basque Country.
And although they were ultimately defeated here, Lucas Torró’s stunning equaliser and the celebrations that ensued can certainly be added to that list. That goal will live long in the memory of Osasuna fans, just as John Aloisi’s late equaliser in the 2005 final does.
Rodrygo will remember this night for a fair while too, as he scored both of his side’s goals to get them the trophy. His fellow Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior was instrumental in both goals as he set up the opener less than two minutes after kick-off and did most of the hard work ahead of the 70th-minute winner.
Los Blancos have no time to celebrate and must quickly lock this trophy away in their vast cabinet, as Manchester City await them in the Champions League this evening.
Legia have had quite a week, as they’ve been involved in two title deciders in the last few days.
First, they beat Raków Częstochowa on penalties to win their 20th Polish cup. Then, on Sunday, they made it up to the defeated finalists by losing their league fixture, handing the Ekstraklasa title to Raków even though they too lost earlier in the day.
The celebrations in Raków are sure to continue for quite a while, as this is the club’s first top-flight league title in their 103-year history. Despite being around for so long, this was only Raków Częstochowa’s eighth season in the Polish top flight. They only made their debut at this level in 1994, and after four seasons, went on a relegation slump that saw them sink straight to the fourth tier.
Raków did bounce back up to the third tier in a couple of seasons, but then found themselves stuck there for over a decade. Their fate started to change after 2014 when a new owner came in and started to take Raków back to the top. They returned to the second tier in 2016, which also was the year that head coach Marek Papszun joined.
He brought them up to the Ekstraklasa within three years, and after comfortably steering them to safety in their first season back in the big time, got them competing for major honours already. They won their first two major trophies in the form of the cups of 2020/21 and 2021/22, when they also came within touching distance of the league and finished as runners-up.
The inverse has happened this time as Raków lost the cup final but won the league title, so their disappointment from midweek has quickly disappeared. Given how they have been building up to this success, this could well be the start of a long period of success for Raków Częstochowa.
Interestingly, we had two more first-time champions crowned in Europe this weekend – FK Struga in North Macedonia and Swift Hesperange in Luxembourg.
There were no champions crowned in Argentina this week, but there was the small matter of the Superclásico.
The two big rivals found themselves in very different positions going into this match. River Plate were comfortably leading the way in the Liga Profesional having dropped points on just three occasions so far this season. Boca Juniors, meanwhile, were knocking about in the mid-table spots with just 18 points from 14 games.
They had endured a very poor start to the season that saw Hugo Ibarra pay with his job in spite of guiding them to the title last year, so this was Jorge Almirón’s first Superclásico experience in the dugout. He had somewhat stabilised his side as they came into this fixture with a record of three wins in the last four matches, but they knew that River were going to be a different level of opposition altogether.
Indeed, they found themselves dominated at the Estadio Monumental, getting outshot eight to one in the first half. The home side’s performance seemed to have everything but a cutting edge in the final third, so as the second half wore on, a draw seemed inevitable.
But, there was some very late drama in store for the 80,000 fans in attendance. River Plate won a penalty a couple of minutes into stoppage time, which Miguel Borja converted. While he went off to a corner flag and celebrated, an almighty scuffle kicked off on the other side of the pitch. It took about ten minutes to calm everything down, after which the referee brandished seven red cards.
Ultimately, River will not mind that late scrap as it could not stop them from adding three more points to their tally, taking them ever closer to reclaiming the Liga Profesional title after missing out last year.
Big Sam was back in the Premier League as Leeds United parachuted him in to steer them to safety with just four matches left in their relegation battle. The first of those was a very simple one – a visit to the home of the defending champions.
Given the fact that Manchester City still had a job to do in the title race, no one expected Leeds to be able to come away with anything from this match. Still, all eyes were on them to see how Sam Allardyce would set his side up, and how well they would be able to defend having let in 24 goals since the start of March.
There were somewhat encouraging signs in that regard, as the visitors’ very compact 4-2-3-1 low block did an okay job of keeping City at bay. Their main weakness seemed to be defending in and around their box as they often allowed opponents to find pockets of space, but it is always hard to prevent that from happening against Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side controlled the game throughout and established a two-goal lead in under half an hour thanks to İlkay Gündoğan’s brace, so they seemed on course for another comfortable victory. There was some late drama as the German international failed to score a penalty for his hat-trick in the 84th minute after which Leeds went up the other end and scored, but City were able to re-establish control and did not allow their visitors to pose the threat of scoring an equaliser.
Leeds dropped in to the relegation zone after the Monday night matches. With their remaining fixtures coming against Newcastle United, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur the search for the points they need for safety could be a tough one.
Celtic successfully completed their Premiership title defence in Scotland this weekend, but the more entertaining action came from the second tier where the regular season drew to a thrilling close. Of course, all the matches kicked off simultaneously, and nine of the ten teams still had something to play for.
The headline fixture certainly was Dundee FC’s visit to Queen’s Park – a straight showdown for the title and the sole automatic promotion spot. The hosts looked set to clinch it for most of the season, but a terrible run that saw them pick up just four points from their last six games rather derailed their campaign.
As a result of that, they went into this match in second place and therefore had to win it if they were to finish first. After conceding early on, they scored twice in quick succession (including through a pinpoint strike to the top corner from Charlie Fox) to take the lead by the 12th minute.
The match remained frantic and end-to-end as ever throughout, but Queen’s Park never got into a commanding position again. After conceding the equaliser in the 17th minute, they trailed again after the half-hour mark, but Fox pulled them level on the stroke of half-time. In the second period, Dundee quickly took the lead again, before sealing the win with their fifth goal of the match in the 81st minute.
The result saw the Dee bounce straight back up to the Premiership after their relegation last season, but Queen’s Park route to joining them was made even tougher by Ayr United’s win over Raith Rovers which saw them sneak into second spot on goal difference.
So, Scotland’s oldest football club will first have to get the better of Partick Thistle to get the chance to face Ayr United for the spot in the promotion-relegation play-off. Their dream of winning three consecutive promotions to reach the Championship in as many seasons after turning professional is still on, but the path now has a few added twists and turns.
The bank holiday in England certainly delivered. We had three games throughout Monday and 21 goals were scored. It certainly made up for the 13 goals scored across Saturday and Sunday. There’s still everything to play for in the Premier League with the title still undecided, the top four places are unsettled and the scramble for survival sees the bottom three change on a weekly basis. With this in mind, a look at the biggest talking points.
Chelsea finally won a game of football under Frank Lampard. It was their first win in just shy of two months and the Blues are now passed the magic 40-point mark in the Premier League.
Was it deserved? Perhaps not. It was a much tighter match than the scoreline suggested. Chelsea claimed a 3-1 victory though the Expected Goals total had the away side slightly ahead of the Cherries on 1.35 to 1.29. In fact, Bournemouth actually won the xG battle in the second half, but two late goals secured three vital points for the visitors.
Another record for Mohamed Salah
Liverpool have now won six successive matches in the Premier League and they are unbeaten in seven. This run has seen them move to within one point of a Champions League place after Manchester United lost to West Ham.
Mohamed Salah was the match-winner for the Reds, once again, on Saturday. He scored the winner in mid-week against Fulham and managed it again against Brentford. The Liverpool No. 11 is the first player in the club’s history to score in nine successive matches at Anfield. He’s now on 19 for the season and looks on course to score 20+ Premier League goals for the fifth time in six years.
The Ødegaard show
Arsenal’s trip to St James’ Park had the potential to be problematic. A loss for Mikel Arteta’s side would’ve seen them four points behind Manchester City having played a game more. The reigning champions would’ve had the potential to move seven points clear with just three games to play if they won their game in hand. The pressure was on the away side but they dealt with it admirably.
Martin Ødegaard opened the scoring for the Gunners with his 15th of the season. He’s the joint-top scorer for Arsenal this term and only five players have more goals in the English top flight. The captain is going a little under the radar having scored five in his last five outings. His performances as of late have played a part in extending the title run.
Fulham thrash the Foxes, sort of
On paper, this game would’ve looked pretty one-sided. At one stage, it was 5-1 to the hosts and it was a walk in the park for Marco Silva’s men.
However, the Foxes actually had more shots, three more big chances and a higher xG – though they did have two penalties to help boost that figure. The hosts managed to create chances worth just 0.5 in the second half but were clinical on the day.
For the second successive match, Leicester missed a penalty. Jamie Vardy missed when the score was 4-1 and minutes later Fulham added a fifth. James Maddison converted just days after seeing his spot kick saved by Jordan Pickford in the draw with Everton.
Dyche-ball
Everton went to the Amex without a win since March 11th. Brighton had beaten Manchester United in mid-week and had momentum on his side but found themselves 1-0 down inside of a minute. The Toffees were 3-0 up at half-time despite having an xG of just 1.19.
Brighton rallied in the second half and finished with an xG of 3.26. The Seagulls had five big chances and 78% of the ball but were sucker punched time and time again by the Toffees on the break. Dwight McNeil was the star of the show for Sean Dyche’s men – grabbing an assist and scoring twice on his way to a 9.4 showing.
A six-pointer
A win for Southampton would’ve prolonged the inevitable. Despite a spirited showing in the second half, the Saints lost 4-3 to Nottingham Forest.
Morgan Gibbs-White was the star, with one assist and one goal, he also created three chances for Forest. He now has three goals in his last four games and Forest have taken six points from those matches. As a result, they are now three points clear of the relegation zone.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from the 2022/23 Premier League season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.
Saturday sees the 121st Final of the Copa Del Rey, Spain’s biggest cup competition. Which will be played at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. It features, for the first time since 2014, 19-time winners Real Madrid against Osasuna, who have reached the showpiece game for just the second time in their history.
The side from Pamplona sit mid-table in LaLiga having just lost to champions elect, Barcelona, in the week but they have punched above their weight in the Copa. They beat regular finalists Athletic Club in the semis and saw off both clubs from the final’s host city in previous rounds – Seville and Real Betis.
For Madrid, this match comes at the start of a three week period that will determine their season. With Barcelona now needing just one win to confirm the league title – thanks, in part, to Madrid’s defeat at Real Sociedad on Tuesday, that’s one piece of silverware they won’t be winning. But they do still have this cup final, a game for which they start as overwhelming favourites. And then the two-legged Champions League semi-final against Manchester City to come. The first leg of which takes place at the Bernabéu this coming Tuesday.
This is one of two Premier League games we’ve chosen to highlight this weekend, and not just because it features current leaders Manchester City. No, we think the return of Big Sam Allardyce to the touchline on Saturday definitely warrants its inclusion. Out of work since his West Brom side were relegated in 2021, the 68-year-old was appointed as a replacement for Javi Gracia during the week, and now has four games to keep Leeds United in the top flight.
As first games go, a trip to title-chasing Manchester City couldn’t be tougher. And with fixtures against Allardyce’s former clubs Newcastle and West Ham, plus Spurs to come, Leeds fans are in for one hell of a ride.
For their part, Manchester City ended the week where they started: Top of the table. They were briefly deposed following Arsenal’s convincing win over Chelsea but quickly reestablished themselves following Wednesday’s 3-0 victory against West Ham. A game in which Erling Haaland scored his 35th goal of the league campaign, setting a new record for a single season in the Premier League era.
The Premier League title race will be a hot topic all through the weekend with chasers Arsenal set to meet third placed Newcastle United on Sunday. Gunners’ fans longing for their first title in almost a decade have good cause to be nervous heading into this one. While Arsenal’s defence has been leaking goals – at least – that is until Tuesday’s 3-1 win over London rivals Chelsea, Newcastle have found their shooting boots. Eddie Howe’s side followed up the 6-1 and 5-1 thrashings of Spurs and Everton with a 3-1 win of their own, against bottom side Southampton, last weekend.
One point currently separates City and Arsenal but will that still be the case come Sunday evening?
Perhaps the world’s most famous footballing rivalry bar the Spanish Clásico, Argentina’s Superclásico, between Buenos Aires giants River Plate and Boca Juniors, takes place on Sunday.
This will be their first meeting of 2023 and it comes 15 rounds in to the new season. River have been dominant so far and it’s they who lead the table by six points having lost just twice so far. That contrasts to the fortunes of defending champions Boca, who sit down in 13th, and well off the pace.
Boca do however have recent history on their side – they won both match-ups on the way to the title last season. And they’re also fairing better in the ongoing continental cup tournament, the Copa Libertadores. Boca lead their group after three matches having won at Chilean side Colo-Colo during the week while River were smashed 5-1 by Brazil’s Fluminense. That’s the most goals they’ve ever conceded in a single match played in South America’s biggest club tournament.
If, like us, you’ve spent the last few matchdays waiting for Napoli to finally get over the line and confirm the club’s first Scudetto since 1990, you may have found yourself trawling social media watching video after video of the celebrations that have engulfed the city of Naples. And from Thursday’s away game, both at Udinese, and the watch-along back at Stadio Diego Maradona.
Well, following that 1-1 draw, we now get to enjoy the club’s homecoming, where surely they’ll be a party atmosphere for the visit of Fiorentina on Sunday.
Plus two hidden gems from deep in your match feed…
The A-League Men’s season in Australia has reached the post-season finals series and we’re gearing up for a historic Sydney Derby. This Saturday’s quarter-final will be the first such finals game between the two Sydney clubs, and marks Western Sydney’s return to these play-offs for the first time since 2017.
For the sky blues of Sydney, who’ve made four of the six Grand Finals since then (winning two), this campaign has been something of a disappointment. And the last meeting between the rivals perhaps sums that up – the red and blacks of Western Sydney ran out 4-0 winners that day and ended the regular season three points better off than their opponents. A fact that also means that this play-off takes place at their home stadium, and not Sydney’s.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you’ll know all about Wrexham’s promotion back to the Football League from the fifth tier of the English pyramid. But spare a thought for Notts County, who pushed them so close, and would, in any other season, have won the league at a canter – especially with the goalscoring exploits of Macauley Langstaff, who provided 42 of their massive haul of 117 scored across the regular campaign.
But in this division, second doesn’t mean automatic promotion and instead it’s the lottery of the play-offs for Notts County where, on Sunday, they’ll meet Boreham Wood at what is the semi-final stage of the competition. As you can see below, Boreham Wood finished sixth and over 30 points down on the Magpies but now have the same shot at promotion.
The Wood won at fifth placed finishers Barnet during the week to set up this game while Notts County did, at least, get a bye through to the final four.
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Napoli have finally done it! After weeks of anticipation, they sealed the deal in Udine on Thursday night to secure their first Scudetto in 33 years.
To honour Napoli’s season under Luciano Spalletti, let’s take a look at how each of his key starting players impacted the season and how their roles came together perfectly to create a championship winning side.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo: No one logged more minutes in Serie A for Napoli than the reliable right-back. Napoli’s captain provided the usual solid displays with his tireless engine, stout defensive ability and overlapping runs, which resulted in six goal contributions. While he won’t be remembered as the most skillful player on the team, Di Lorenzo was one of the fan favorites and a player Napoli simply could not do without.
Alex Meret: The 26-year-old goalkeeper showed incredible personality and resilience by seemingly going from an afterthought last season to a consistent starter for the club. Meret had lost his starting role to David Ospina in the past after inconsistent performances. In fact, it was only last summer that the club was desperately trying to reinforce the position after Ospina was sold. With no signings made, Napoli had to rely on Meret once again and he rewarded them with his best season as a professional.
Kim Min-jae: Kim was brought in from Turkish side Fenerbahce to replace Kalidou Koulibaly and has looked like one of the bargains of the decade. Bought for only €18m, the Korean centre-back won Player of the Month honours to start the season, causing Napoli fans quickly forget about Koulibaly’s exit. Strong, aggressive and deceptively fast; Kim’s play was perfect this season for a Luciano Spalletti defensive line that likes to play high up the pitch. His recovery speed meant that it was a near impossible task for a striker to make a run in behind him. Every time Kim made a defensive play, the crowd at the Stadio Maradona would chant in appreciation with a very loud “KIIIIIIIIM!”
Stanislav Lobotka: Lobotka’s breakout season with Napoli ensured that Spalletti had a quality deep-lying playmaker to utilise his offensive, possession based approach. The diminutive midfielder was often the player who collected the ball from the defence and started the attack. What made him special was his ability to always know where the pressure was coming from and take a quick first touch to instantly create space for himself and play a forward ball. Lobotka’s awareness in the position made him exceptionally difficult to dispossess, and he was a pillar for Napoli’s style.
André Zambo Anguissa: Napoli’s box-to-box presence, Anguissa was the perfect compliment to the other two midfielders. The Cameroonian international could do a little bit of everything, from being a physical and defensive presence, to showing quick feet and technique – and he got forward into the final third. Anguissa was also smart in possession and had a great partnership with Lobotka and Zieliński, showing unique characteristics that meshed perfectly with the rest of the team.
Amir Rrahmani: The less talked about centre-back in the pairing with Kim Min-jae, the humble Rrahmani had himself a superb campaign. While he didn’t have the speed of Kim, it was his physicality and reading of the game which earned the trust of Spalletti and made him a clear favourite in the starting line-up over the other two defenders – Juan Jesus and Leo Østigård.
Piotr Zieliński: Now in the top ten of Napoli players with most appearances, Zieliński is becoming a club legend. He was the most offensively gifted of the Napoli midfield trident, and often the one that got himself in the most attacking positions. What made Zieliński so special was his two footed ability, both in passing and shooting situations. The Polish midfielder became the glue that linked the rest of the team with the front three and his positioning was often what made him so dangerous. Zieliński was always able to provide that second wave of runs when the attackers were stuck with their backs to goal. Zieliński’s seven goals and three assists were an impressive return for a central midfielder.
Mário Rui: The left-back has consistently improved since joining from Empoli seven years ago. His position was one of only two in the line-up that was rotated by Luciano Spalletti. While the other left-back Matías Olivera got more playing time in the Champions League, Mário Rui was more visible in domestic play. His crossing ability really stood out this season, often combining well with Kvaratskhelia on the left hand side and providing six assists for the season.
Hirving Lozano and Matteo Politano: The two right-wingers alternated throughout the course of the season, both offering a very different approach to the position. Spalletti had flexibility from a tactical perspective by having this depth in this position. Lozano started 19 matches compared to Politano’s 14. Both players have identical stats – 3 goals and 3 assists apiece, which is another reason they’ve been grouped together here. The differences lie in their playing style. Lozano’s raw speed really saw him flourish in end-to-end matches that were stretched, while Politano’s more shifty nature and low centre of gravity meant that the Italian did well against a low block where there wasn’t much space to get in behind.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Kvara has become a household name in European football. The 22-year-old who joined from the Georgian league was an instant success this season, scoring 12 goals and assisting 10. Some of the most memorable moments of the season belonged to the man affectionately named Kvaradona – his mazy runs, stunning strikes and electrifying dribbles quickly drew worldwide attention. Amazingly, flights were chartered from his native Tbilisi, Georgia, operating on a weekly basis to shuttle die hard Georgian fans to Naples on game day to watch their hero play. What was most impressive about Kvara is how quickly he adapted to the Italian and European game. Never looking fazed, Luciano Spalletti mentioned how Kvara’s mentality has really helped him with the pressure – he’s an incredibly nice guy with a humble personality who hasn’t allowed the moment to get to him. On the pitch, Kvaratskhelia’s playing style was dynamic and unpredictable. A bit of a maverick on the left-wing, he was another perfectly two footed player who was impossible to decipher. Defenders would often fall for his series of inebriating body feints and ball fakes, committing themselves to the tackle only to see Kvara dart in the other direction. He also had a final product. Kvara’s finishing has been as lethal as his crossing ability.
Victor Osimhen: There is no Scudetto without Victor Osimhen. The current Serie A capocannoniere finally showed what he could do if he remained healthy for an entire season. Osimhen’s 22 goals in 27 league matches have from all sorts of angles and situations. Simply put, defences had no way of stopping him. A team that dared to play a high line would get torched on the counter, while a more defensive low blow would see a flurry of crosses played into the box for Osimhen’s world class leaping and heading ability. A quick look back at all of the goals he’s scored this season shows just how versatile the Nigerian is – he can score in any way and at any time. Whether it’s a stunning volley or a curling finish, a glancing header or a poacher’s finish, Osimhen always found a way to make himself an option.
(Images from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from the 2022/23 Serie A season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
It was a goal-filled match week in the Premier League with 44 being scored across the 10 matches. However, some meant more than others. As usual, here’s a look at the biggest talking points from across the action.
Brighton’s season had threatened to end abruptly after they followed up their FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United with a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest in mid-week. Roberto De Zerbi made changes to his starting XI for the visit of Wolves, dropping Levi Colwill, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Karou Mitoma to the bench.
His side responded well to the shake-up and found themselves 4-0 up at the break following a ruthless display. Pascal Groß and Dennis Undav both netted doubles but the player of the match was Danny Welbeck. The forward rolled back the years to claim two goals and an assist. The one-time Manchester United player more than deserved his 9.3 FotMob rating and Brighton more than deserved their 6-0 win, creating five big chances as well as racking up an Expected Goals haul of 3.34.
The Eagles soar to safety
In any other week, this would probably be the match of the weekend.
West Ham had the better of the chances in the first half, going in at the break with a higher xG but trailing 3-2 to Roy Hodgson’s side. The hosts made the most of all of their possession (60%) and took their chances. The 4-3 win lifted them onto 40 points and they are all but guaranteed another season in the English top flight. The Hammers aren’t yet there and find themselves four points above the drop following back-to-back defeats.
Things don’t get easier for David Moyes’ men with a trip to title-chasing Manchester City on the cards.
Panic mode for Leeds United
Bournemouth romped to a 4-1 win over Leeds to give themselves some breathing space. The Cherries are now nine points clear of the drop zone with just four games to play.
This result almost certainly expedited the departure of Javi Gracia. The former Watford man only replaced Jesse Marsch in February but he has now been swiftly replaced ahead of their next match – away to Manchester City on Saturday.
Sam Allardyce is the surprise appointment with Leeds now desperate to remain in the Premier League. Gracia hasn’t had the best of times at Elland Road. The loss to Bournemouth was their fourth in five matches and the third time they had conceded four or more in a match during this period.
A tale of two halves at Anfield
Thefirst half was all Liverpool and the second half was all Spurs. The hosts eased into a 3-0 lead inside of 15 minutes before losing complete concentration. Jürgen Klopp’s side were sloppy in possession and created next to nothing following the third goal as Spurs fought back.
However, the Reds won it with Diogo Jota’s strike in stoppage time, just 90 seconds after Richarlison had equalised.
It was a fairly predictable game in many ways.
Harry Kane scored for the eighth time against Liverpool. Mohamed Salah scored for the eighth time against Spurs. Heung-Min Son scored for the third successive match at Anfield while Trent Alexander-Arnold made it six assists in his last five outings.
A match of the season contender
On paper, Everton’s trip to Leicester City should’ve been a tight-knit affair. Both teams need points and the best way to do that is to keep a clean sheet. Keep chances to a minimum and bide your time.
Neither side got that script though. The 2-2 draw was one of the most entertaining games of the season that did nothing to either side’s hopes of survival. Both teams finished with an xG total of over three on the night, the first time this has happened this season.
The point helped the Foxes move out of the relegation zone on goal difference but they are still level on points with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest while Everton remain in 19th and are one of only two teams not to hit 30 points this season.
Lampard’s streak continues
Since replacing Graham Potter as interim manager of Chelsea, Frank Lampard is yet to oversee a victory. The former Everton boss has lost six successive matches across all competitions and the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal was his fourth in the Premier League.
He made changes to his team looking for a reaction following the 2-0 defeat to Brentford over the weekend but one of them, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, was hauled off at half-time to really emphasise how things are going for Lampard as a tactician, and Chelsea as a club, right now.
It was all too easy for Arsenal who now sit top of the table once again.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from the 2022/23 Premier League season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
It is only the end of April, yet we are seeing titles being handed out by the truckloads around Europe. This weekend was full of cup finals while some league titles were also clinched, so the agenda for our weekly column rather set itself.
The Coupe de France was full of unexpected results and upsets once again this season. After their surprise success last year, defending champions Nantes made the final once again after beating the likes of Lens and Lyon. Their opponents at the Stade de France this time were Toulouse, who faced two second-tier opponents in the lead-up to this match.
This was only the second time that the Ligue 2 holders had reached the final in their long history. Their last appearance came way back in 1957, when a previous iteration of the club lifted their first major trophy – a high that they failed to replicate to this point.
On Saturday, though, they arguably surpassed it with a dominant display on the big stage. Philippe Montanier’s side absolutely blew their opponents out of the water, scoring two early set-piece goals en route to a four-goal lead in about half an hour. After that, it was simply a case of seeing the match out to hold this coveted trophy aloft, which they comfortably did.
Such unfancied sides surprisingly winning a trophy generally tend to be one-off successes, as happens to be the case of Nantes who now find themselves battling relegation from Ligue 1. For Toulouse, though, this could just be the start of a special era.
After their last relegation from Ligue in 2019/20, American investment agency RedBird Capital bought an 85% stake in Téfécé. They would go on to completely change the club, setting up a now-renowned scouting and recruitment department with a heavy emphasis on data-driven decision-making.
This was the key behind their Ligue 2 triumph last year and has once again proven crucial as they look set to comfortably finish in mid-table in Ligue 1 with a squad containing representatives from 23 different nationalities. Montanier has got them playing some very good football that is easy on the eye, so most French football fans were happy to see them win the cup.
2022/23 will go down as a historic season in Italian football. Not only does Calcio have five representatives in European semi-finals along with a guaranteed spot in the UEFA Champions League final, but there also is a lot going on on the domestic front.
That includes Juventus’ well-documented ongoing case, as well as Napoli’s imminent title win, which will be their first since 1990. That might have been this week, but Salernitana played party poopers and held them to a draw.
Nevertheless, there was a title decided in Italy this weekend. In the first season of the Serie A Femenille after its full professionalisation, Roma have created history by winning their first-ever league title in their five-year history.
Their 2-1 win over Fiorentina this weekend did the job, ending Juventus’ streak of dominance since their foundation in 2017. This is a thoroughly deserved title for the Giallorosse, who have been the best side in the country by some way having dropped points on just two occasions in the league so far. They also made it to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they lost to would-be finalists Barcelona.
Clearly, this is only the start of a period of prolonged success for Roma.
There was history made in the Netherlands as well this weekend. For the first time in the 125-year history of the KNVB Cup, last season’s finalists faced off in the decider once again.
Ajax lost to their old rivals PSV at De Kuip last year, so they would have hoped for a different result as the two rivals met again. Their quest for revenge would only have been made more intense by the two sides’ last meeting only a week ago, when PSV delivered a significant blow to Ajax’s Champions League ambitions.
Johnny Heitinga’s side initially looked much improved here, as they were in the ascendency throughout the first half and took the lead through a Jarrad Branthwaite own goal just before half-time. They could not maintain their performance levels in the second period, though, letting in an equaliser from Thorgan Hazard after a period of prolonged PSV pressure.
That took the game to extra time, where a lack of goals meant that it all boiled down to penalties. In a pretty unique shoot-out where only half of the efforts went in – largely thanks to a streak of four consecutive failures in the middle – it was PSV who prevailed as Wolves loanee Fábio Silva made no mistake with the final effort.
So, for just the second time in their history, PSV have won consecutive KNVB Cup titles, meaning Ajax’s season has gone from bad to worse just as we head in to the tailend of the season.
Sunday was also Cup Final day in Austria, where there was no sign of RB Salzburg in this crucial match for the first time in a decade. They lost to Sturm Graz in the quarter-final, after which Graz got the better of LASK to set up a great shot at winning the trophy. Their final opponents were Rapid Wien, who last won this trophy way back in 1995.
There was a great atmosphere at the Wörthersee Stadion, as both sets of supporters recognised this golden opportunity to add a title in what is a period of almost total domination for Salzburg. On paper, Sturm were the slight favourites owing to their superior position in the league table and better form, but those things can sometimes go out of the window on such special occasions.
Thankfully for Sturm, that did seem to translate onto the pitch to some extent as they had the better chances in a frantic first half. The best opportunity fell to Manprit Sarkaria, who blazed wide from relatively close range with only a couple of defenders standing between him and an empty net.
The 26-year-old forward more than atoned for that in the second period by scoring two goals that will surely go down in his side’s history. He opened the scoring in the 67th minute and then sealed the result in the 82nd, securing a sixth cup title for Sturm Graz.
Back in league football, there was a much more predictable outcome in Spain. Barcelona Femení, undisputedly the most dominant women’s side in world football at the moment, have added yet another league title to their collection.
Once again, they have done so with a perfect record of 26 wins from 26 games, along with a goal difference figure in three digits. To find the last time they dropped points in a league fixture, you would have to go all the way back to June 2021 – 62 fixtures ago.
Even though Barcelona have secured a spot in the Champions League final and have won every one of their domestic matches this season, the treble is not on for them. That is because they were expelled from the Copa de la Reina for fielding an ineligible player, so they will not be able to defend that title.
Nevertheless, this looks set to be a very successful season for Barcelona yet again, although there will be a lot of expectations from the Champions League final in Eindhoven. The good news for them ahead of that game is that star midfielder Alexia Putellas made her long-awaited return from an ACL injury this weekend, so she should be up to full speed by then.
Our last game is the only one where a title was not decided with the full-time whistle, but it was quite an important knock-out match nonetheless. The second legs of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals were held this weekend, so the tournament has now boiled down to four teams.
There is a nice split of major representatives from the continent’s most successful nations, including South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, defending champions Wydad Casablanca, Egyptian champions-elect Al Ahly and Tunisian giants Espérance.
Sundowns and Al Ahly advanced with relative comfort, but the other two sides encountered some hiccups. Wydad ended up having to win a penalty shoot-out against Tanzanian side Simba SC, while Espérance had some very different problems in their match against JS Kabylie.
Things seemed to be going smoothly for them at half-time in Radès as they managed to preserve their first leg lead, but then everything changed at half-time. Kick-off for the second half was delayed significantly after a fire broke out in the stands. The exact cause of that remains unclear with some attributing it to fighting between the two sets of fans and others accusing an unknown group entering the stadium from outside, but what is certain is that the police intervened and fired tear gas. Unfortunately, there were several injuries reported among fans and the police, but the match eventually resumed.
On the pitch, the home side quickly added a buffer to their lead just a few minutes after the resumption. JS Kabylie pulled a goal back in the 85th minute and hoped to stage a dramatic turnaround thanks to the away goals rule, but they failed to do so.
So, in some rather unsavoury circumstances, Espérance advanced to the final four. It is unclear as to whether they will face some sanctions for these incidents with reports seemingly suggesting that CAF will take action.
Regardless, JS Kabylie must now turn their full attention to the Algerian Ligue 1, where they shockingly find themselves in serious danger of relegation.
